Hillside New Tech High named national demonstration site
December 3, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dr. William Logan, Principal, Hillside New Tech, 560-9183
Byron McCauley, New Tech Network
(513) 929-1310, mccauleyb@kwfdn.org
School is one of 19 New Tech schools honored for strong implementation of the New Tech approach, will serve as learning model for other schools
DURHAM – In August 2007 Hillside New Tech High School opened with the expectation of success. This week a key measure of success has been realized as the New Tech Network honored Hillside New Tech, naming it one of 19 national demonstration sites in the United States.
That means Hillside New Tech will be a referral site for education stakeholders, elected officials and others who are interested in learning more about the New Tech approach so they, too, might use it to improve learning for students. Based in Napa, Calif., the New Tech Network is a school development organization that supports the start-up and implementation of innovative high schools marked by project-based learning in a technology-rich environment.
This achievement is rare-an honor fewer than half of the schools in the New Tech Network achieve. As such, Hillside New Tech will serve as a visitation site for those interested in seeing how the approach works and a site that will train school staff for prospective New Tech schools.
Teachers in New Tech high schools design rigorous, real-world projects tied to state and district standards and customize them to their location and the interests of students. The result: Students who are deeply engaged in learning and develop important skills such as critical thinking and collaboration.
Monica Martinez, president of New Tech, commended Hillside New Tech on its honor.
“Hillside New Tech High School will play a key role in the development of the New Tech Network because we will use it and other sites to help national, state and local schools and school districts experience what engaged learning looks like, how teaching can be re-imagined, and how technology facilitates both of these,” Martinez said. “Seeing New Tech sites up close can help them understand the power of the model, so they too can think about doing this where they live.”
Martinez said Hillside New Tech High and the other locations will also play an important role as a training site for the newest New Tech teachers and leaders as they prepare to open their own schools by spending time in demonstration sites.
“We are humbled and honored to be chosen as a demonstration site,” said Hillside New Tech Principal William Logan. “This is a testament to the hard work, creativity and dedication among our teachers and students.”
“We are very proud of the students, staff and principal of Hillside New Tech,” said Superintendent Carl Harris. “I must admit that it comes as no surprise that this wonderful school and the great things going on there would be selected as a national model.”
Hillside New Tech High School serves 266 students. It is home to three teachers who have been selected as Kenan Fellows, including a former DPS Teacher of the Year. Just about a year ago, New Tech was tapped by the North Carolina New Schools Project and the University of North Carolina system to be part of the Learning Lab Initiative. New Tech is one of four innovative high schools in NC that will showcase teaching and learning as a part of the Initiative.
Other demonstration sites and their locations are as follows:
Sacramento New Technology High School, Sacramento, CA.; Napa New Technology High School, Napa, CA.; Los Angeles School of Global Studies, Los Angeles, CA; Welby New Technology High School, Denver, CO; New Technology School of Ideas, Decatur, Ind.; Zebra New Tech High School, Rochester, Ind.; New Tech High @ Arsenal Tech, Indianapolis, Ind; North Daviess 21st Century High School, Elnora, Ind.; Bloomington New Tech High School, Bloomington, Ind.
Columbus Signature Academy, Columbus, Ind.; Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Jefferson, La.; Tech Valley High School, Albany, N.Y.; Hillside New Technology High School, Durham, N.C.; Anson New Technology High School, Wadesboro, N.C.; Manor New Technology High School, Manor, TX; Math, Engineering, Technology & Science Academy @ RL Turner High School, Carrollton, TX; Akins New Technology High School, Austin, Texas; and New Tech High@Coppell, Coppell, TX.
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About New Tech Network: New Tech Network, www.newtechnetwork.org, is a school development organization that supports the start-up and implementation of innovative high schools. The National Network of New Technology High School Network currently comprises more than 40 schools across the county, including schools in Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Colorado, Texas, California and Louisiana. It is a subsidiary of KnowledgeWorks Foundation.
About KnowledgeWorks: KnowledgeWorks Foundation (www.kwfdn.org) strives to be the leader in developing and implementing innovative and effective approaches to high school education in the United States. The organization primarily focuses on redesigning urban high schools, developing STEM and Early College high schools, and supporting student-centered approaches to delivering real learning and results in our schools.
